Trademark registration process

Trademark registration – Protecting your brand starts here

Registering a trademark is a crucial step for the long-term success and legal protection of your brand. It secures you exclusive rights to use it and protects your company from unwanted competition. A registered trademark not only promotes the development of a positive brand image but also reduces the risk of confusion with other trademarks and prevents unauthorized use.

Registering a trademark is the first step in legally protecting your brand. The process involves several important steps, which I'll explain in more detail below:

• Filing the trademark application: Submit your trademark application to the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) or another competent authority.

• Payment of registration fees: After the application, the necessary fees for trademark registration must be paid.

• Examination by the DPMA: The trademark office checks whether your application meets the requirements for registration and whether there are any possible objections.

• Registration in the trademark register: If the examination is successful, your trademark will be officially registered and receive legal protection.

• Wait for the objection period: After registration, third parties have three months to file an opposition to the trademark application.

• Trademark monitoring after registration: To protect your brand permanently, I recommend regular brand monitoring to detect possible infringements at an early stage.

• Renewal of trademark protection: Trademark protection is valid for a period of ten years and can be renewed thereafter to secure your brand in the long term.

As an experienced trademark law firm, I will support you in legally protecting your brand from the outset, allowing you to concentrate fully on your business.

The registration fee for a trademark is €300 for up to three classes. Each additional class costs €100. If you file the application electronically, the basic fee is reduced to €290.

Choosing the right classes is crucial not only from a cost perspective. There is a mandatory use requirement, meaning you must actually use the trademark in the selected classes to maintain trademark protection. Furthermore, selecting multiple classes will increase the examination and processing time.

The following fees apply for trademark registration with the DPMA:

• Basic fee (for 3 classes): 300 € (for electronic registration: 290 €)

• Additional classes: 100 € per class

Would you like to register your trademark securely and protect it legally? Our trademark law firm will guide you every step of the way – from registration to monitoring your trademark protection. Contact us now and register your trademark legally!

After you submit your trademark application to the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), it will undergo a thorough examination. However, the DPMA only checks whether there are any absolute grounds for refusal that could prevent the trademark from being registered. The examination is based on the following criteria:

• Is the trademark protectable?
  The trademark must be distinctive and must not contain purely descriptive or generic terms.

• Were the formal registration criteria met?
  The DPMA checks whether the application complies with all legal requirements and whether all necessary information has been submitted correctly.

• Is there a risk of misleading or deceptive consumers?
  The trademark must not be misleading or mislead the consumer. The German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) investigates whether the trademark could in any way lead to consumer deception.

• Does the trademark violate any laws or morality?
  The trademark must be in accordance with applicable law and common decency.

If the DPMA encounters deficiencies during the examination, such as a lack of distinctive character or an obvious risk of misleading, the entrepreneur will be informed of the objections. If the entrepreneur fails to respond or correct the deficiencies, the trademark application will be rejected.

To ensure your trademark registration is successful, it is crucial to submit them correctly and on time. Our trademark law firm will guide you through the entire process and help you avoid mistakes. Start your legally secure trademark registration now – with the support of an experienced trademark attorney!

If there are no objections or if the entrepreneur successfully resolves them, the trademark is registered in the German Patent and Trademark Register (DPMA). With this registration, the trademark receives legal protection, and the entrepreneur acquires the exclusive right to use the trademark.

In addition to registration, the new trademark will be published in the German Patent and Trademark Office's public trademark gazette to inform the public about existing trademark rights. This publication gives other companies or individuals the opportunity to file an opposition to the trademark if they believe their own rights are infringed by the trademark.

Our trademark law firm supports you in registering your trademark and ensures that all necessary steps are carried out correctly to secure your trademark protection in the long term.

After the trademark has been published in the DPMA's Trademark Gazette, owners of older trademarks or competing trademarks have the opportunity to file an opposition against the registered trademark. The DPMA does not examine whether existing intellectual property rights are infringed, which is why oppositions are based on so-called relative grounds for refusal, which can arise in the following cases:

• There are already older, identical brands.

• The risk of confusion with older trademarks is too high.

Objection period of 3 months
After the trademark is published, third parties have three months to file an opposition to the application. If the opposition is successful, the trademark will be cancelled and the trademark application will be declared invalid. It is important to note that trademark registration fees are non-refundable in this case.

Trademark protection for 10 years
After successful registration, trademark protection lasts for ten years and can then be renewed for a fee to maintain trademark protection in the long term.

Make trademark registration legally secure: Let me professionally guide you through the entire registration process and avoid potential disputes. Our trademark law firm will support you in successfully and permanently protecting your brand.

After a successful trademark application and the expiration of the three-month opposition period without objections, trademark protection is valid for ten years, beginning on the date of receipt of the application. However, protection does not end with registration – it is crucial to continuously monitor your trademark even after registration.

Why permanent brand research is important
It's essential to regularly check trademark registers to ensure no new trademarks have been registered that could infringe your rights. If you encounter a potential trademark infringement, you can file an opposition within the statutory time limits.

Helpful tools for brand monitoring
Specialized tools help you quickly and effectively detect infringements of your trademark rights – especially online. These tools enable regular and automated monitoring, allowing you to respond to potential conflicts in a timely manner.

Our trademark law firm supports you in trademark monitoring and ensures that your rights remain protected long-term. I offer customized solutions for preventative trademark research and help you respond quickly to trademark infringements. Request advice on trademark monitoring now and protect your brand permanently!

Registering a trademark is the first step toward legally protecting your brand and setting yourself apart from the competition. It not only protects your corporate identity but also strengthens your customers' trust. As a specialized trademark attorney, I will guide you from the initial concept to successful trademark registration and beyond.

As an experienced trademark lawyer, I offer you comprehensive support and advice in registering your trademark:

• Brand strategy advice: I will help you choose the right brand name and determine the right brand form (word mark, figurative mark, combined mark).

• Examination of trademark protectability: I ensure that your trademark meets the legal registration requirements and that there are no obstacles to protection.

• trademark searchBefore registering, we check whether similar or identical trademarks have already been registered in order to avoid trademark conflicts.

• Preparation of the list of goods and services: I will support you in selecting the relevant classes from the Nice Classification for your trademark.

• Submission and monitoring of the application: I will professionally submit your trademark application to the DPMA, EUIPO or WIPO and accompany you through the entire registration process.

• Objection procedure: If a third party objects to your trademark application, I will represent your interests and support you in securing trademark protection.

Rely on the expertise of our trademark law firm. I will provide you with personalized advice, guide you through the entire registration process, and ensure that your trademark is securely and successfully protected. Contact me today for a free consultation on trademark registration and receive legally sound and professional support!